Gerard Baden-Clay given life sentence for murder of wife Allison

Former Brisbane real estate agent Gerard Baden-Clay has been given a life sentence for murdering his wife Allison in April 2012.

A Supreme Court jury on Tuesday found the 43-year-old guilty of murdering the mother of three at their Brookfield home and disposing of her body under the Kholo Creek Bridge, more than 13 kilometres away.

He had told them she went for an early morning walk and never returned home.

But marks on his face alerted police that something more sinister may have happened.

Hours turned into days, and on April 30 a lone kayaker discovered what was later confirmed as Allison's body on the muddy banks of Kholo Creek at Anstead, about 10 kilometres from the family's home.

That day, police refused to say whether Baden-Clay was a suspect.

On June 13, however, he was arrested and charged with his wife's murder.

After the verdict, Detective Superintendent Mark Ainsworth thanked SES volunteers, the Brookfield community and Allison's family for their assistance throughout the police investigation and searching for Allison in the days after her disappearance.

He said police officers "never waivered" during the massive police investigation, which comprised six divisions of Queensland Police and more than 60 detectives following up more than 1,500 lines of inquiry.

"One disappointment out of this investigation, if anything, was the time it took us to find Allison," he said.

The crown said she died at the hands of her husband, the last person to see her alive.

At the time of her disappearance, Baden-Clay had marks on his face and body that drew the attention of police.

He had excuses for them, though: he had cut himself shaving in a rush; the marks on his neck were where he had crushed a caterpillar that had landed on him while he was watching one of his daughters compete in a cross-country race; and marks on his hand were from a screwdriver that slipped while he was helping renovate a friend's house, but marks on his chest and shoulder could not be explained by him.

However, three forensic experts testified that marks on Baden-Clay's face were likely fingernail scratches and Baden-Clay's claim that they were from a razor was simply implausible.

They said marks on Baden-Clay's body could also be from scratching, although they were less conclusive.

Then there was the dripping blood found in the boot of Allison's four-wheel drive. DNA testing confirmed it was Allison's.

Baden-Clay's double life

The murder trial exposed a couple living very different lives publicly and in private.

On the face of it, the Baden-Clays were a successful family, running their own prestige real estate company.

But they were in deep financial trouble and Baden-Clay was having trouble paying off loans to friends.

In desperation, he had begged the state Member for Moggill, Dr Bruce Flegg, for a loan of up to $400,000, fearing he would go bankrupt without it.

Baden-Clay was also caught between two women: his wife and lover.

In marriage counselling, Baden-Clay had professed to want a future with Allison, but at the same time was vowing to leave his wife on her birthday for former employee Toni McHugh.

An email trail between Ms McHugh and a secret account set up by Baden-Clay under the name Bruce Overland portrayed a tumultuous affair, and growing frustrations from Ms McHugh about her lover's unfulfilled promises.

"Well you'll have to forgive me that I feel disappointed when this happens. I'm sick of hiding," Ms McHugh wrote on February 20, 2012.

"I'm sick of being second best and having to take the back seat ... all so she doesn't find out.

I'm sick of being second best and having to take the back seat - all so she doesn't find out.

Toni McHugh in an email to Baden-Clay

"Why should I believe things are going to be any different than the past[?]"

Ms McHugh wrote on March 27 she had looked at rental properties.

"It would be so much easier if you did just move in with me," she said.

"She can get her own place and the week you have the children you move back to the house."

Baden-Clay wrote on April 3: "I have given you a commitment and I intend to stick to it - I will be separated by 1 July."

He also wrote an email on April 11 - referring to Ms McHugh as GG - their names for each other were Gorgeous Girl and Gorgeous Boy.

"This is agony for me too. I love you," he said.

"I'm sorry you hung up on me. It sounded like you were getting very angry. I love you GG. Leave things to me now. I love you. GB."

Until April 2012, Baden-Clay had been able to keep his two worlds separate, but they were about to collide spectacularly.

On April 20, Allison and Ms McHugh were due to attend the same real estate conference.

"I am afraid of being alone and lonely, maybe because I think I can't handle it. I am afraid of failing - failing in my marriage and what people will think."

Allison also had lingering questions about her husband's affair with Ms McHugh. Some were answered, some were not.

Questions like how many times did they go to the movies together? How did they pay for hotels? Where did they have sex in her apartment? Sex in the family car?

"Did she ever say: 'I feel bad because you're married?'"

Three daughters left behind

The trial was the first time the public had heard the three Baden-Clay children speak about their mother's disappearance.

Heartbreaking video recordings of police interviews with the girls, then aged 10, eight and five, taken on the afternoon their mother was reported missing showed their fear, distress and confusion at what was happening around them.